diff --git a/tests/validators/test_union.py b/tests/validators/test_union.py
index 7c8044c84..c570f9b6d 100644
--- a/tests/validators/test_union.py
+++ b/tests/validators/test_union.py
@@ -499,7 +499,9 @@ class SpecialValues(str, Enum):
     def remove_prefix(v: str):
         nonlocal validator_called_count
         validator_called_count += 1
-        return v.removeprefix('uuid::')
+        if v.startswith('uuid::'):
+            return v[6:]
+        return v
 
     prefixed_uuid_schema = core_schema.no_info_before_validator_function(remove_prefix, core_schema.uuid_schema())